Best Weapons light?

wyattratt

wyattratt

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Just finished my first AR build and looking to add some more to the setup. Anyone have suggestions on reasonable priced weapons lights. Preferably with pressure pad.
 
I’ve RO’d a bunch of night matches. I’ve come to firmly believe that lights are a solid “you get what you pay for” purchase.

Surefire is the least I’d go. I’m very happy with an M600 Scout.
 
Modlite, Surefire and Cloud for long guns; Modlite, Surefire and Streamlight for pistol.

I can't afford a $350+ light setup (light, switch and mount) on everything I own, so I still run Surefire G2X on a few long guns. If I could afford it, they'd all have Modlite 18650/18350 PLHv2's with Modbuttons.
 
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You're going to need to define reasonably priced unfortunately.
Tier 1 - cloud defensive and modlight $300+
Tier 2 - arisaka and surefire $200+ to $300+
Tier 3 - streamlight $100+

I would go any cheaper than streamlight.
I'm a fan of Arisaka m600 lights with a simple push button tail cap. These can be had for about $200 and have a good amount of candela. Kinda the perfect spot between performance and price in my eye.
 
Mission drives gear. Ain't nothing wrong with a SF G2 for indoor application on HD AR. But it has neither the candela nor the lumens to be super effective outside.
 
wyattratt said:
Just finished my first AR build and looking to add some more to the setup. Anyone have suggestions on reasonable priced weapons lights. Preferably with pressure pad.
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How much are you willing to spend?
 
wyattratt said:
I would like to stay under the $200 range if possible. A weapon light isn't an absolute necessity for me, just want it as a backup in case I need it.
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I run the Streamlight 88090 on two of my home defense firearms and used the lights for more then two years, I love the light and can not say enough good things about it. It comes with the pressure pad and a Rail mount. Its great light. Oh, also included is a laser built in the light that is adjustable to sight-in. Great Product.

STREAM 88090

Streamlight STREAM 88090 for sale from Worn & Carry.
www.wornandcarry.com
 
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JBoyette said:
I run the Streamlight 88090 on two of my home defense firearms and used the lights for more then two years, I love the light and can not say enough good things about it. It comes with the pressure pad and a Rail mount. Its great light. Oh, also included is a laser built in the light that is adjustable to sight-in. Great Product.

STREAM 88090

Streamlight STREAM 88090 for sale from Worn & Carry.
www.wornandcarry.com
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Thanks for the input Ill keep that in mind. I've never heard of that Worn and Carry website before, is it a good place to shop?
 
wyattratt said:
I would like to stay under the $200 range if possible. A weapon light isn't an absolute necessity for me, just want it as a backup in case I need it.
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The streamlight HL-X rail mount would be a good option of you in that price range.
 
Derek8404 said:
The streamlight HL-X rail mount would be a good option of you in that price range.
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I was going to mention the same. I have a few on various AR's and they are a bargain. I don't have serious use on any of them but have at least 1,000 rounds through one of the guns and it seems to be holding up fine.
 
Surefire Scout. It’s the gold standard.

I have an OWL and it’s a porky waste of space.
 
wyattratt said:
I would like to stay under the $200 range if possible. A weapon light isn't an absolute necessity for me, just want it as a backup in case I need it.
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I have the SL Protac rail mount 1 on a couple of rigs…great light, but as others on here suggested, for a bit more you can get the HL-X and it’s gonna be a lot brighter..and brighter is better.
 
wyattratt said:
Unless you find a mirror sweeping your house 😂
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Depending on where the mirrors, glass picture frames or anything else reflective is located, in relation to your uninvited guest(s), those surfaces could be advantageous if used properly.
 
My HLX has flickering issues under recoil and occasionally just dies from connection issues. My understanding is that these issues aren't uncommon.

My impression is that the protac rm 1 and 2 do not have these issues.
 
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Derek8404 said:
The streamlight HL-X rail mount would be a good option of you in that price range.
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Cole_McD said:
My HLX has flickering issues under recoil and occasionally just dies from connection issues. My understanding is that these issues aren't uncommon.

My impression is that the protac rm 1 and 2 do not have these issues.
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As @Cole_McD said, I've seen so many people say they've had flickering issues from the HL-X, even with a SF tailcap adapter and SF switch. By the time you buy that crap you could have gotten something better anyways.

Even if the issue doesn't exist with the RM1/2, you're talking about a significant drop in lumen output. The cost savings aren't justified if it doesn't work.
 
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IrishCannon said:
As @Cole_McD said, I've seen so many people say they've had flickering issues from the HL-X, even with a SF tailcap adapter and SF switch. By the time you buy that crap you could have gotten something better anyways.

Even if the issue doesn't exist with the RM1/2, you're talking about a significant drop in lumen output. The cost savings aren't justified if it doesn't work.
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I didn’t know that about the HL-X. I had one of the earlier models, it was the 600 lumen versions and it was solid.
 
I realize they are out of the OP's budget but since they were mentioned, and the thread title is "Best weapon lights?". I spent last night shooting at Coleman's Creek and I can verify that both the Cloud Defensive Rein 1.0 and Surefire Scout body /Modlite OKW head work awesome for engaging targets out to 250yds. Note these are 18650 powered lights not Lithum CR123 and boths these lights are geared more to engaging targets at distance than home defense or room clearing tasks. The CD Rein is on a rifle with a 1-8x LPVO while the Modlite OKW head was used with a 1.5x ACOG (T-44). I also used the Modlite OKW handheld on top of the scope turret of my .300BLK bolt gun; very funtional but not optimal. I've worked up one potential solution for that today though with just bits & bobs I had on hand. ;) Quite surprisingly the laser like beam focus of the OKW head when combined with the lightbar scout mount does indeed greatly minimizes the suppressor shadow downrange even though the light head is 10 inches behind the suppressor! I also use the TRex/ Arisaka scout lightbar on all my AR's with WML's because they are suppressed. It may appear like a gimmick, but it works!
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I agree, if you can stomach the cost modlite is my choice.

I have an okw and plhv2 mounted on ars and use a df surefire as a handheld. Not sure about the newer sf offerings but the modlite heads blow sf out of the water.
 
Pbj ak said:
I agree, if you can stomach the cost modlite is my choice.

I have an okw and plhv2 mounted on ars and use a df surefire as a handheld. Not sure about the newer sf offerings but the modlite heads blow sf out of the water.
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I just ordered a PLHv2 head to test out. The OKW head is awesome at distance, but to me lacks enough spill to be effective inside of 50yds for general use. I had forgotten just how wonky the pricing on the Surefire tailcaps and switches were. However, when a vast majority of you sales are to MIL and GOVT the pricing makes sense. I opted for an Arisaka momentary tailcap ($35) instead of a SF/Modbutton combo ($56+$79). That's one of the things I do like about the CD Rein is that their tailcap is both button and switch, it is included with the light unlike SF & Modlite.
 
I've had some luck in the last few years with Crimson Trace and Streamlight. At least for handguns. My only foray into lights on rifles have been Surefire....
 
For carbine WMLs, my current thought is Modlite OKW 18650 after experiencing how good a friend's is, but I'm going to have to get one first before I can really verify that I like it as much as I think I do.
 
Gnash.Hyena said:
For carbine WMLs, my current thought is Modlite OKW 18650 after experiencing how good a friend's is, but I'm going to have to get one first before I can really verify that I like it as much as I think I do.
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I'd definately go 18650 over 18630. Modlite usually has a decent Black Friday Sale.

I REALLY like the ability of the OKW head to punch out to distance but IMO it does not have enough spill for effective use inside 75yds, it's just too focused. Now past 100yds out to ~250yd the OKW is perfect!! I have a SF M600DF, which technically has 1500 Lumens but is all spill and drops of rapidly past 50yds. That's why I ordered the PLHv2 head and also why I have Cloud Rein 1.0 on several of my AR's
 
Bunsen said:
I'd definately go 18650 over 18630. Modlite usually has a decent Black Friday Sale.

I REALLY like the ability of the OKW head to punch out to distance but IMO it does not have enough spill for effective use inside 75yds, it's just too focused. Now past 100yds out to ~250yd the OKW is perfect!! I have a SF M600DF, which technically has 1500 Lumens but is all spill and drops of rapidly past 50yds. That's why I ordered the PLHv2 head and also why I have Cloud Rein 1.0 on several of my AR's
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Yeah I hear you. I think when you're at that level the gear is mission dependent. You don't just put the same thing on every rifle, you decide what that rifle's purpose is and go from there. I would definitely want something with more flood in my 300blk AR for instance, since its focus is home defense within 50-100 yards. My 16" 5.56 ARs though, punching out to 100-250 yards with the OKW is the right light for the job. I am open to hearing what is better for providing a wider beam for the 300blk though, I haven't decided on a light for that yet.
 
Gnash.Hyena said:
Yeah I hear you. I think when you're at that level the gear is mission dependent. You don't just put the same thing on every rifle, you decide what that rifle's purpose is and go from there. I would definitely want something with more flood in my 300blk AR for instance, since its focus is home defense within 50-100 yards. My 16" 5.56 ARs though, punching out to 100-250 yards with the OKW is the right light for the job. I am open to hearing what is better for providing a wider beam for the 300blk though, I haven't decided on a light for that yet.
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I think the PLHv2 head is the answer for your shorty .300BLK since you are already in the SF/Modlite family of lights. I should have my PLHv2 in hand Sat or at the latest Monday since USPS is closed today. I won't recommend any Cloud Defensive products currently as they are experiencing significant growing pains as a company thus product availability is lacking and quality has slipped.
 
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